Hatch’s ‘corazon Latino’ must have been transplanted, group says

When U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch said he had a corazon Latino, some probably wondered just how legitimate his claim was. Now they can roll their eyes collectively.

Like Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, Hatch announced today he’ll vote against confirming Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary says Hatch “must have had a transplant recently because there’s no convincing reason for him to oppose the nominee with the greatest federal judicial experience in a century and a 17-year record of judicial restraint and moderation.”

Hatch had praised the judge’s credentials and experience.

In a press release, the group criticized Hatch for lacking “the courage to stand against Judge Sotomayor’s detractors. Sen. Hatch has turned his back on his constituents, including a fast-growing Latino community in Utah. Sen. Hatch seeks to deny this nation and the Supreme Court one of the most intelligent and experienced jurists in recent history. Shame on you, Sen. Hatch, ” said Claudine M. Karasik, an attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary describes itself as an independent network of elected officials, legal, civil rights, labor, academic and political leaders who care deeply about the impact that the Supreme Court has on the Latino community.